Archive for category: Missouri Apprentice Ready Program

As an immigrant, Jeffrey had earned a degree in architecture before coming to the United States. He learned about the Apprentice Ready Program through Facebook and decided to apply.

“I am keen to acquire new skills and gain insights into construction methodologies and practices, as well as the building materials prevalent here in the U.S.,” says Jeffrey.

“I appreciated how the program introduced us to various trades by organizing visits to their facilities and providing valuable insights,” he adds. “Engaging in hands-on experiences within those fields was really interesting. I also commend Mr. Russ Unger, our program coordinator, who shared his extensive knowledge of building construction and demonstrated great patience throughout the program.”

During the 5-week course, Jeffrey immersed himself in the world of the trades. The program supports students like him by removing barriers to success. Along with education on the trades and unions, the Apprentice Ready Program provided Jeffrey with a stipend, a bus pass, and work tools. With worries about cash and transportation out of the way, he was able to fully commit to the program and gain the most from his experience.

Now that Jeffrey has graduated, his life—and his family’s lives—have improved tremendously. “I am able to financially support my family while continuing to gain knowledge and experience in my chosen field,” he says. Not only is Jeffrey working in a field he’s passionate about, but he’s earning a reliable, life-sustaining wage that will empower him to build the future he envisions.

If you are new to the United States and seeking a career, Jeffrey encourages you to apply, “This program will provide you with the necessary information and confidence to choose the trade you’re interested in,” he says.

Start your journey here.

Samantha started planning a new life for herself during her incarceration. “I heard about the Missouri Works Initiative program while in the Missouri Department of Corrections,” she says. “I applied because I wanted to change my life and pursue a career instead of just a job.”

The 5-week Apprentice Ready Program introduces participants to trades like plumbing, construction, and heavy equipment operation. Through hands-on opportunities and transportation support, participants are set up for success.

“I really enjoyed the program all the way around,” says Samantha. “Learning about the different trades showed me that, even as a woman, I can succeed in the construction industry.”

Sometimes all we need to rebuild our lives is someone who believes in us. “The program gave me the second chance I always needed but never got,” Samantha shares. “I now work in a great environment, learning new things daily.”

If you want to build a brighter future with sustainable income, Samantha urges you to consider the Apprentice Ready Program. “It’s an amazing opportunity and a great experience for anyone wanting to get into the trades,” she says. “I’m so grateful for the support and opportunities this program continues to provide.”

Start your journey here.

As a justice-involved felon, Ronald found it difficult to find life-sustaining employment after his incarceration. However, after hearing about the Apprentice Ready Program from his pastor at Brookline Church of Christ, he felt like it was something he needed to learn more about. “I ended up talking to Austin Fox (Missouri Apprentice Ready Program Instructor) about the program,” says Ronald. “I knew I needed a career, and this sounded like a golden opportunity.”

For Ronald, the Missouri Works Initiative Apprentice Ready program was everything he needed to build a foundation for future success. The 5-week program provided him with education on the unions, a weekly stipend, tools, and a hands-on introduction to all the trade options before him. “I liked everything,” says Ronald. “I really liked that we got to do hands-on and learn about the unions as a whole.”

After graduating from cohort 9, Ronald is now with IUPAT 2015, which represents glaziers and finishers in Southwest Missouri, Northwest Arkansas, and Northeast Oklahoma. Additionally, he was recently awarded credit towards his apprenticeship and is already a 3rd year apprentice after only four months on the job. “Now I have a career as a glazier with the IUPAT, and it’s helped me to grow into being a better husband, father, and productive member of society,” shares Ronald.

If you, a friend, or a loved one has been justice-involved and are seeking new career opportunities that will last a lifetime, The Missouri Works Initiative Apprentice Ready program provides everything you need to build a new beginning. Take it from Ronald, “Well, like I do say all the time at the union hall when I get to talk to the new classes, joining a trade for the union is a game changer!”

Start your journey here.

Keon is a graduate of the Missouri Works Initiative’s very first Mid-Missouri Apprentice Ready Program cohort. “I had wanted to get into a union and learn more about them. I saw the program advertised online, so I signed up for it,” says Keon. “They were able to give me all the information I needed and help me get started.”

When asked about his favorite aspect of the Apprentice Ready Program, Keon shared that the opportunity to see the trades in action and meet union members really made an impression on him. “I liked how we got to visit different halls and sites,” he said. “We learned so much about all the different kinds of trades professions there are.”

Now that Keon has graduated, he is looking towards the future. “I got to apply to do something I like doing,” says Keon, “but I’m also looking forward to retiring one day with great benefits! I’m also OSHA certified and CPR/First Aid/AED certified as well.”

If you or someone you know is looking for a career that will last for the long haul, Keon encourages you to apply for the Missouri Works Apprentice Ready Program. “Do it!” Keon says. “It was amazing and you’ll learn a lot of things. It doesn’t hurt to try something new or to get more information about something you already know. There was a person named Doug Swanson who taught labor history to us and said that you should always want to know more!”

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When Kansas City Apprentice Ready Program graduates Whitney Leaming and Esbeydi Villalobos first heard about the Missouri Works Initiative, the new friends were seeking a brighter future for themselves and their children. Both were residents of Amethyst Place, which provides transitional housing and support for women and their children while the women are in recovery from substance use disorder. When Amethyst Place began an expansion project, Whitney and Esbeydi met Kansas City Program Coordinator Rudy Chavez. 

The women of Amethyst Place consider themselves sisters, and for Whitney and Esbeydi, joining the Missouri Apprentice Ready (MAR) Program not only provided the opportunity to give back to the place that had given them a fresh start but also helped them each create a foundation for sustainable careers. “I had already had ideas on wanting to be in construction – I just didn’t know what part or what union or how it worked. I really had no idea or information on any of it,” says Whitney. “While listening to Rudy, something just clicked, and I knew I wanted to help build Amethyst Place and become a part of the unions.”

For Esbeydi, who had just gotten her GED, the MAR Program was exactly what she sought. “I wasn’t interested in going to college. I wanted a career path that would pay me to learn a skill set,” she says. “I really liked that the program let us visit all the trades. We got to learn what they do and what they have to offer and try it hands-on for ourselves. That was the most fun!” 

Since completing the program, life has drastically changed for the better for both Whitney and Esbeydi. “ Before I started with the laborers union Local 264, I was on government assistance,” says Whitney. “Now I am fully self-supporting. I can afford to pay for my daughter’s child care and all the food for myself and my family. I even have health insurance through the Laborers. I do not need government assistance, which gives me all the confidence in the world that I can support my family as a single mother.” Esbeydi is now part of the local 124, The Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. “I am a pre-apprentice working and learning to be an electrician, and I love it. My kids are watching me grow, which makes me so happy. This program helped me find a career where I enjoy working because I want to learn. I am very thankful.”

If you are curious about the trades and looking for a sustainable, life-changing career, Esbeydi and Whitney encourage you to find out more and take a chance. “If you’re considering doing the program, do it,” encourages Esbeydi. “It will change your life like it changed mine. You will be so happy you did!”

“I would absolutely encourage you to try it out,” says Whitney. “The worst case scenario is you get $500 for doing the program, and you get to learn about all these different careers and life paths you can take. The world is doing nothing but getting more expensive, and the Union definitely lives up to the idea of taking care of its people,” she says. “Also, you get to earn while you learn. Even with zero experience, you can make money just starting because the union has standards on how much somebody should make based on their work, not the color of your skin or whether you’re male or female.”

Start your journey here.